PIFO Challenge Cup to kick off February 18

PIFO Challenge Cup to kick off February 18

BY EMMANUEL AKPAN

All is now set for the commencement of the maiden edition of the Prince Inyang Inyang Foundation (PIFO) Challenge Cup.

Briefing sports journalists over the weekend, one of the members of the foundation, Mr Linus Nda said the tournament will begin from February 18 to March 4, 2018.

Mr. Linus Nda said that the tournament will kick off at the Alscon field in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area and that 10 football clubs have registered so far, adding that they are expecting about 32 clubs across the Akwa Ibom State to participate in the tournament.

Nda disclosed the prizes for the tournament which are; five hundred thousand naira for the first position, three hundred for second position, while the third position will go home with two hundred thousand naira.

He disclosed that the tournament will take place in different centres to include: Uyo, Ikot Abasi, Oron and Onna for the first stage. For the second stage, Nda said all the teams will go to Ikot Abasi for their matches at Alscon field, while the finals will take place at the Uyo township stadium.

While describing the tournament as one of the biggest tournaments in Akwa Ibom State, Nda stressed that for a team to qualify to participate, such team must register with the sum of ten thousand naira only and must pass through screening processes even as he noted that participation prize would be given to all the teams.

In his words, “We want to discover talents in the tournament so that the foundation would sponsor them to any club of their choice. We have concluded plans to bring in football scouts during the tournament. This is our own way of developing the youths of Akwa Ibom State.”

Also speaking, another member of the foundation, Mrs. Mfon Nnamuko said that the foundation has done a lot of programmes to improve the living standard of youths in the State.

Mrs. Nnamuko, who said that the foundation is a non governmental organisation, noted that the main aim of the organisation is to help the needy in Akwa Ibom State and beyond. She maintained that the principal of the foundation, Prince (Dr.) Inyang Clement Inyang is always ready to add value as well as impact positively on the lives of youths.

According to her, “The aim and objective of our principal is to make sure that the youths of Akwa Ibom State and beyond are up and doing. We are not only into sports, we have other sectors like educational, scholarship as well as helping the people financially to boast their businesses, empower both men and women, among others.” she stated.